President Mugabe has announced that Zimbabwe will be able to raise US$200 million needed for the constitutional referendum and harmonized elections using its natural resources.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said Finance Minister Tendai Biti wanted the referendum delayed because of lack of funds, but principals to the Global Political Agreement thwarted the move.

President Mugabe told the bishops from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe that a committee was set to raise funds for the referendum and elections.“We need about US$200 million for the referendum and elections which I really thought we could manage to raise,” he said assuring the bishops that no hitches were expected during elections scheduled for this year.

The bishops called for peaceful elections which they volunteered to be observers, adding that the illegal Western sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were harmful and must be lifted.